Amazon has not yet given up on delivering packages in the sky with drones and its own shipping airline, but it appears the e-commerce giant is also working on a more traditional route.

A new report reveals the Seattle-based firm is shipping goods from Chinese merchants to US warehouses by sea, according to the WSJ.

While Amazon doesn't own ships, it is acting as a logistic provider by booking space on vessels and arranging the shipping between ports and warehouses.

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A new report suggests that Amazon is shipping goods from Chinese merchants to US warehouses by sea. It is acting as a logistic provider by booking space on vessels and arranging the shipping between ports and warehouses (stock image)

AMAZON ON THE SEA

Documents reveal Amazon has shipped at least 150 containers of goods from China to US warehouses.

Amazon has begun posting rates for new services that are handled by global freight companies such as sorting, labeling, and trucking shipments.

While Amazon doesn't own ships, it is acting as a logistic provider by booking space on vessels and arranging the shipping between ports and warehouses.

The move is to cut-costs, as the firm relies heavily on other firms, like FedEx and UPS, to ship their goods.

The global outsourced logistics market was valued at more than $706 billion in 2015 and grew nearly 5 percent last year.

Other firms who have taken a piece of this industry include FedEx and UPS.

Since October, Amazon has shipped at least 150 containers of goods from China, Laura Stevens with the Wall Street Journal revealed these statistics after analyzing shipping documents collected at ports of entry that were compiled by Ocean Audit, a firm focused on ocean-freight refund recovery for shippers.

This month, Amazon started posting rates for new services that global freight companies focus on, such as sorting, labeling, and trucking shipments.

And everything has been listed under its Chinese subsidiary, Beijing Century Joyo Courier Service Co. with Distribution-Publications Inc.

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This report coincides with Amazon's registration with a federal agency overseeing ocean transportation last year, which is necessary for those looking to act as the middle man for suppliers shipping products in and out of the US.

And, according to the WSJ, hitting the high seas brings the firm one-step closer to its ultimate goal – 'hauling and deliver packages and cargo for others as well as itself'.

Since October, Amazon has shipped at least 150 containers of goods from China. While Amazon doesn't own ships, it is acting as a logistic provider by booking space on vessels and arranging the shipping between ports and warehouses (stock image)

The newly discovered documents also show that 'Amazon Logistics' is listed as a named party, which suggest the firm has agreed to provide ocean freight services with another party.

It seems that Amazon is looking to cover all methods of transportation, as the firm signed a deal to lease 20 Boeing767 widebody freighter aircraft to handle more of its own deliveries in the United States last year.

The firm relies heavily on other firms, such as UPS and Fedex, to ship its goods, so finding its own will not only make them self-sufficient, but will also cut costs – Amazon spent $11.5 billion on shipping in 2015.

It seems that Amazon is looking to cover all methods of transportation, as the firm signed a deal to lease 20 Boeing 767 widebody freighter aircraft to handle more of its own deliveries in the United States last year. And its Boeing 767 (pictured) first flew in August 2016

And a few months after signing the lease, Amazon unveiled its first branded cargo plane, one of 40 jetliners that will make up the e-commerce giant's own air transportation network as it takes more control of its delivery process.

Branded with 'Prime Air', the plane took flight in August over Seattle's Lake Washington just before the Navy's Blue Angels took to the skies.

Aircraft like Amazon One allow the company to 'continue to maintain our fast delivery speeds and lower our costs as our Prime base and our Prime member growth continue to soar,' said Dave Clark, Amazon's senior vice president of worldwide operations.

Despite its growing fleet of aircraft, Amazon said it plans to continue to use FedEx, UPS and other transportation partners.